[don_Durandal]

The biggest mystery here is how can a beautiful woman like Reiko not be married yet?

j/k
Finding the Other is not the only mystery here. There are basically two things that need finding out currently:
- who is the Other?
- how does the phenomenon work?

The first question is self-explanatory. The Second one is a bit more complex as there are multiple things that need to be found out:
- what is the source of the phenomenon?
- why does someone die each month?
- why does it not happen each year?
- why do countermeasures only work half of the time?
- how do you stop it?


Disclaimer: I watched the anime until episode 10. I did not read the novel, and while I read the manga (currently at chapter 15) I consider it void for figuring out the anime.
The spoiler tags cover material shown in the anime from episode 01 to 10 only.

Spoiler for my speculation for the phenomenon:

As we know from Chibiki’s account it was the classes inability to accept the original Misaki’s demise that led to the return of Another in subsequent years. Thus it is not so much the dead that come to 3-3, but the students of 3-3 themselves who call the dead in by refusing to acknowledge their death.
This means that the Other has to be someone the class wants to return and finish the year with.

Now from episode 10 we “know” that killing the Other stops the phenomenon. However this is only a temporary solution as the phenomenon still happens in subsequent years. I think the reason why it was stopped this year is not the killing itself, but because Matsunaga was forced to acknowledge the Other’s death. It didn’t work for subsequent years though because he was the only one, and the phenomenon requires the whole class to acknowledge death to stop.

This however doesn’t answer all the questions listed above.

Now, about the Other:
1) They have to be someone in connection to the class who died previously (this death having been forgotten)
2) As I mentioned in the speculation, I think that the Other has to be someone the class wishes to return/who’s death they didn’t acknowledge.
3) Meta-wise it’s realistic to expect the Other to be part of the A-team and not a redshirt, so that narrows the roster considerably (obviously this info is not available to Kouichi, and I’ll feel really silly if it turns out I’m wrong).
4) The suspects are further narrowed down due to Mei’s revelation in episode 10.

Now the only clue we have to the identity are possible inconsistencies which the phenomenon couldn’t correct. “There’s no reason to alter a fake”.

Spoiler for what I think are inconsistencies:

The “Misaki’s revelation” pointed above is that the Other is at the lodge. That doesn’t change much though, as the only non-class suspect is Reiko and she is outside the 3-3 limits (although a case of her relation to Kouichi being changed by the phenomenon can be made)

Obviously a number of things listed here will be of the “lost in translation” kind, either due to the actual Japanese-English translation, or parts of the novel not being included in the anime. I expect at least half of my “inconsistencies” to be irrelevant then ^^;

What’s with Kouichi?
- he forgot about being in Yomiyama 1.5 years ago, something which was confirmed by an external source (Sakakibara Yousuke)
- he appears at the end of the class roster, and not in his alphabetical position
- he didn’t attend the first week of class, despite it happening before his accident
- he didn’t get the class roster originally
- he can’t really define Ms. Mikami

What’s with Izumi?
- Izumi is sure she met Kouichi before, but she can’t remember when (the flashback in episode 10 is not available to Kouichi, and thus irrelevant)
- Izumi gives her full name to Kouichi when she visits him at the hospital, but by episode 04 he doesn’t remember who “Izumi” is when talking to Aya
- Why did Izumi miss Kouichi’s first school day? <probably was explained in the novel> It just happens not to be consistent with how important her job as head of countermeasures is to her.
- Why did she volunteer to be head of countermeasures (instead of being appointed by a teacher) and what does she mean by “I can’t allow that phenomenon to exist”? <can be explained by someone likely being her brother being marked as dead in 1996>

What’s with the “Sakakibara” household? (since we never learn of the mother’s maiden name, I’ll have to go with that for now)
- the Grandfather seems to think Kouichi will start 7th grade, and starts moaning about Ritsuko when Kouichi reminds him that he’s actually in 9th grade <could or could not be a clue, considering how the grandfather seems to be suffering from PTSD/mild dementia>
- the Grandfather is very tired of funerals <normally the only funeral he attended was 15 years ago for his daughter… which would indeed be “too much” already>
- the infamous “poor Ritsuko… and poor Reiko” line should still be in everyone’s mind <what could have happened to Reiko?>
- Reiko seems to have trouble with her memory on several occasions <can be attributed to blaming herself for her sister’s death>
- Why is Chibiki so surprised to hear that Ritsuko died 15 years ago? It’s the only “sibling’s death” that is not noted in the rosters. Considering the importance of the phenomenon, Chibiki’s position and him knowing about Ritsuko and Reiko being siblings, he should have been aware of it.
- Matsunaga says he saw Reiko recently, which she denies <striked due to Kouichi not hearing this information; it is thus void>
- the bird’s antics could be a clue (who’d name a Mynah “Rei-chan” when you’ve got a daughter called Reiko, honestly, so confusing). Since the bird has no “memories” per se, what it says can’t be changed by the phenomenon

What’s with the school?
- Ms. Mikami was made assistant homeroom teacher again, despite “what she went through” (Chibiki).
- Mochizuki joined the art club “this year again” instead of being in it all along. <surprising due to his dual fascination with Ms. Mikami and Munch>
- The class visited Tokyo last year, and a lot of people seem eager to return there <well, that’s not really surprising in itself…>

What’s with Mei?
- the puppet of Mei’s unborn “sister” looks exactly like her. Why does she have green instead of red eyes then?
- Why was the portrait Mei was painting in the club room slashed, and whose portrait was that?
- Why do Mei and Kirika treat each other as strangers, considering how attached Kirika seems to be to her “daughter”?
- Why did she mention Ritsuko and Reiko looking alike as children? <probably has to do with her own relation with Misaki>

Other stuff
- how can so many people in this small circle of people be interested in the arts (Ms. Mikami teaches art and is the art club advisor, Mochizuki likes Munch and joined the art club again this year, aunt Reiko paints as a job, Misaki draws and likes to look at art books, Kouichi wants to do arts at university and Kirika does puppets)
- just how many versions of “Misaki” can you have?
- why did Yukari run the other way in the hallway when seeing Kouichi and Mei <it could be because of Mei’s status as the unseen>
- Mizuno mentions that “something weird is going on” as work keeps pilling up

And finally, here’s my current speculation for who the Other is:

Spoiler for whokickedthebucket?:

I call Mikami-sensei in the art club room!

Unfortunately I couldn’t figure any convincing clue, so this will really be just speculation and not any presentation of evidence. Hints are drawn from the list of inconsistencies listed above.

- Ms. Mikami and Ritsuko are the same person.
- The 1983 death did not happen
- She came to Yomiyama in 1996 to teach art class and was made assistant homeroom teacher of class 3-3. She died due to the phenomenon
- Due to the class’ and Kouichi’s regrets she returns in 1998 as assistant homeroom teacher

This would explain why the phenomenon had to go as far as erase Kouichi’s memories of being in Yomiyama. It would also explain why Mochizuki was on hiatus with the art class until this year; likewise it brings a connection between Ritsuko and Reiko as far as art goes. Furthermore it means the number of chairs was right from the start.
The phenomenon also couldn’t just change memories to “Ritsuko didn’t die” due to Kouichi and Yousuke being outside the sphere of influence. This also explains why Chibiki didn’t know about Ritsuko’s 1983 death. Kouichi wasn't allowed to remember his mother's face due to the phenomenon, and by an effect of substitution he replaced it in his memories (and in the pictures) with the closest likeness: Reiko's.
Ms. Mikami is also very popular, so the class would certainly refuse her demise.


My second suspect would be Izumi. I'll wait for episode 11 before stating why though.